Vending machine



May 10. 1927' A, D. ANTOINE ET Al- VENDING MACHINE vFiled JuneA 21. 19244` Sheets-Sheet 1 "Ffa, 1

Maj 10,1921. 1,627,547

A. D. ANTOINE ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 21. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 241,627,547 May lo 1927 A. D. ANTOINE ET Al.

VENDNG MACHINE Filed .June 2i. 1924 4 Sheots-Sheet 5 May lo 1927 A. D.ANTOINE ET Al. 1'627547 VENDING` MACHINE Filed June 2l. 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May. 10, 1927'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED D. ANTOINE, OF CHICAGO, AND ALBERT E. GEBERT, OF WILMETTE,ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO ADVANCE MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA-TION OF ILLINOIS.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application med June 21,

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the checkcontrolled type in which when a check or token of the proper characteris inserted the mechanism may be actuated to cause an article or commodity to be delivered or discharged to the operator.

Heretofore in machines of this character it has not been possible forthe operator to determine or see in advance of the operation ot' themechanism just which article or how many articles will be delivered tohim when a check is inserted or to determine whether the machine isempty, in which latter event 4 l5 the check or token will be depositedwithin the machine and he will receive no return for the same. v

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improvedmachine of this character in which the particular article or articles tobe delivered to the operator will be in view of the operator at the timehe inserts the check or token, and at the same time the operator will beapprised as to just how many of the articles he will receive when heoperates the machine, thereby eliminating the possibility of an unknownchance as to what will be delivered from the machine upon any properoperation thereof.

A Jfurther object is to provide improved means for detecting orpreventing the operation of the mechanism by the insertion of animproper check or token such as one that is too thin or a washer or thelike.

A' further object is to provide an improved machine of this characterhaving improved means whereby a redetermined number or quantity of thearticles may be delivered upon each operation of the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character havingimproved means whereby the number'of articles to be delivered upon thesuccessive operations of the machine may be varied at will so that whenthe machine is operated a different number or quantity of the articlesmay be delivered :upon different operations of the mechanism.

`'To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other newand useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in thefeatures of novelty in substantially the construction, combination andarrange- 1924. Serial No. 721,446.

ment of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimedand shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention andin which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine ot this characterconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and withpalts broken away.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view as taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View ot the reciprocating or actuating member,the member being removed from the machine and inverted.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as taken on line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail, vertical sectional View taken on line 5 5, Figure4.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the commodity carrier.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view as taken on line 7 7, Figure 2, with'parts omitted and showing the manner in which a proper check wheninserted will release the reciprocating member.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the same part-s in thepositions they will assume when an improper check is inserted.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation of one of the compartments orchambers of the commodity carrier, showing the manner in which thearticle receiving space therein may be varied.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral l() designates asupporting base ofany desired size and configuration having mountedthereupon a hopper or container 11 for holding a supply of articles tobe dispensed.

The base 10 is provided with a discharge outlet 12,` through which thearticles are delivered to the customer.

Within the base 10 is vpreferably provided a partition 13 for dividingthe same to provide a space 14 in the rear thereof adapted to receivethe checks or tokens after the operation of themechanism and whichchecks or tokens may be inserted through a check receiving slot 15.

Also arranged within the base 10 is a casing 16 within which casing isdisposed a rotatable commodity carrier 17 having a ldir-.charged andconveyed in a suitable manner through the outlet opening 12, when therespective compartments 18 are moved mto alinemcnt or register with theopening 19. The casing 16 is also provided with an opening 2() in itswall preferably of a width somewhat less than the width of thecompartments 18 so that when one of theJ compartments 18 is moved intoregister wlth the discharge outlet opening 19, another of thecompartments 18 will be in register or alinement'with the opening 20,thereby enabling f the operator to view the number of articles in thecompartment adjacent the opening 20. This compartment is adapted, uponthe next step of operation of the machine to deliver the articlescontained in the'exposed cornpartment. In order to facilitate Viewingthe articles 21 through the opening 20 in the wall of the casing 16, thebase l() is pvided with a sight opening 22 in the wall thereof inalinement with the opening 2O. If desired a transparent closure such asglass or other material may be provided for the opening 22.

The carrier 17 is preferably provided with a projecting bearing 23adapted to be seated in a bearing 24 and is also provided with aprojecting bearing 25 for holding the upper part of the carrier 17 inposition to be rotated.

The `base 10 is provided .with a top 26 through which the casing 16opens and above which top 26 the hopper, or container 11 is adapted torest. The upper portion-of the carrier 17 is preferably shaped to formprofjecting flanges 27 adapted to overhang the top 26 as shown moreclearly in Figure 4 of the drawings and these overhanging portions areprovided with surfaces 28-29 on the opposite faces thereof for a purposeto be hereinafter lset forth.

Resting upon the top 26 of the base is a member 30 which may be securedthereto in any suitable manner such as by means of suitable fasteningdevices 31 in the form of screws or the like. A portion 32 of the member30 extends over the top of the carrier 17 and is provided with a bearing33 for the reception of the projecting bearing or trunnion 25 connectedwith the carrier 17, so that the carrier 17 will be adapted for a freerotation in a manner to be set forth.

. the pawl.

Carried by the member 30 are spaced stops 3.4-3.5 preferably'constructed of suitable yieldable material and between the ends of whichstops portions of the carrier 17 successively project when thel carrieris rotated, the stop 34 serving to hold the carrier 17 againstretrograde movement while the stop 35 locks the carrier against aforward movement. The stop 34 is yieldable so as to permit of a rotationof the carrier 17 when the stop 35 is rendered inactive or is shifted4so as to unlock or release the carrier 17 in a manner to be set forth. Areciprocating member 36, the bottom plan view of which is shown inFigure 3, is rotatably mounted upon thetop 26 of the base 10 and is heldin position in any suitable manner preferably by means of a flange 37which encompasses the top 26 and the flange is provided with a cut awayportion 38 (see particularly Figure l) to permit of the free operationof the handle 39 which is connected with the member 37 so as to impart areciprocatory movement to the member 37. A cover 40 is provided for themember 37 and the cover is also providedwith a cut away portion 41registering with the cut away portion 38 to form a slot for the handle39. The hopper or container 11 -is adapted to be supported by this top40. y

Connected with the member 36 is na double acting pawl 42 which ispreferably controlled by means of a spring 43 and co-operates withratchet teeth 44 carried by the member 36. The member 36 is providedwith an elongated recess 45 at one end of the rack or teeth 44 and arecess 46 at the other end of the teeth or rack 44. When the member 37is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the rackteeth 44 will engage the pawl 42 which will lock the member 36 againstretrograde movement until the member has been moved to the full extent,at which time the end of the pawl 42 will enter the recess 46. Duringthe movement of the member 36 the teeth 44 -will ratchet across the pawl42 and will place the elastic member 43 under tension so that when thepawl projects into the recess 46 the tension of the spring 43 will shiftthe pawl about its pivot so that the ,member 37 may be moved in theopposite direction. When the teeth 44 pass out of engagement with theend of the pawl 42 on the retrograde movement,

'the end of the pawl will enter the recess 45 and the tension of thespring 43 will reve-rse The limit of the movement of the member 36 maybe controlled in any manner but is preferably controlled by stops formedby the ends of the slot formed by the cut awa portions 37-38 on thecover 4Q and in the ffange 37 Pivotally mounted upon the member 36 is apawl 47 having a shouldered portion 48 and being preferably controlledbya spring 49. This pawl 47 is assume a position t enga e over the edge ofa portion of the carrier 1 so that when the member 36 is released ormoved backwardly the shoulder 48 engaging over a ortion of the carrier17 will rotate 'the'y atter. A sp1-in 5() is' referably provided forreturning t e member 36. -One end of the spring is anchored as at 51 tothe member 36 and the other end is anchored as at 52 to the j member 30.

In order to permit the carrier 17 to be rofated in themanner as justdescribed it is necessary to first release the stop or locking device35. This is accomplished preferably by means of a projection 53 carriedby the member 36 and so arranged as to 'extend in advance of theshoulder 48 a sufficient distance that before the shoulder 48 passesover the shoulder 28 on the portion 27 of the carrier 17, the projection53 will engage the stop or member and deflect the same so as lto movethe edge thereof out of the path of movement of the shoulder or surface29 of the portion 27 of the carrier 17. During this movement of themember 36 the spring will be placed under tension so that when thehandle 39 is released the stress of the spring 50 will return vthemember 36 and thereby rotate the carrier 17 one step of movement. Whenthe projection 53 passes out of engagement with the element 35 theelasticity of the latter will cause it to return and duringl therotation of the carrier 17 the member 34 will engage the periphery ofthe portion 27 of the carrier until the shoulder or portion 28 haspassed the edge of the member 34 when the latter will assume a positionin the path of the retrograde movement of a portion of the carrier 17..,

Carried also by the member 36 i's a dog 54 having a shouldered or hookeden d 55 (see particularly Figures 7 and 8) and which portionprojectsthrough a suitable opening 56 in the member 36. The dog 54 ispreferably pivotally mounted as at 57 and is held in a position that thehooked or shouldered portion. will be normally projected through theopening 56 and below the lower face of the member 36 by means of asuitable spring 58 sueh as a leaf s ring or the like. The spring ispreferably ield against accidental displacement by means of shoulders orprojections 59 on the dog 54. Carried by the lower face of the member 36are projections 60, 61 and 62 which, when the memberl 36 is in itsnormal position are adapted to assume positions adjacent the checkreceiving slot 15 and the dog 54 is provided with an adjustableprojection 63 preferably in the form of a screw which extends through anopening 64 in themember 36 so as to engage a c eck ortoken 65 which isinserted in the check reciving slot15 and when the member 36 is moved inthe direction ,of the arrow shown in Figure 2.

Carried b the top 26 of the base is a projection or s 1oulder'66 whichis of a height that when the-member 36 is in its normal position,- willstand within the ath of movement of the hook shaped portion 55 o f thedog 54 and these two parts co-oper'ate to locl-f the member 36 against aforward movement in the absence of a proper check. The top 26 is alsopreferably provided with a cam or`projecting surface 67 adjacent thecheck receiving slot 15 and over which projection 57 the check isadapted to be moved by the shoulder; 60 ofthe member 36 when the latteris moved forwardly. During this movement the projection 61 will engagethe edge of the check and cause it to rise over the projecting or camsurface 67. If the check is of a proper size or denomination tlie end ofthe projection or screw 63 will be engaged by the check as it passesover the j inclined portion '67 and the hooked extremity 55 will beelevated to theposition shown the projection or shoulder 66. This willrelease the member A36 and permit it to be moved to the full extent ofits movement At the same time the projection 61 will lcouin Figure 7,that is so that it will clear tinue to advance the check 65 until thecheck is moved into a position that it will i'all through an opening 68(see Figure 4) in the top 26 of the base 10 so that the check will bedelivered into the check receiving portion of the base. If, however, animproper check such as the check 69 is placed within the check receivingopening 15 the check will engage the end of the projection or screw 63when the check is moved over the inclined portion or projection 67 butwill not raise the dog 54 sufficiently to cause the shouldered portions55 to clear the shoulder or projection 66, with the result that themember 36 will be locked against movement. As soon as the handle 39 andthe member 36 are released the spring 50 will returnthe member 36 andthe projection 60 co-operating with the projection 62 will cause thecheck 69 to be returned with the member 36 and the check will bedeflected by a shoulder 70 so as to cause the check to fall through anopening 71 in the top 26 of the base, in advance of the partition 13 sothat the check will then be delivered through the delivery outlet 12 ofthe base to be returned to the operator. The end of theinclined portion67 terminatesin the shoulder 72 for the purpose of assisting' indeflecting the check 69.

Obviously the projection 63 may' be ments 18 will be brought intoregister with 19 on the next operation of the machinel the dischargeoutlet 19 to permit the articles to be delivered from the compartment.The sides of the compartments are open and the wall of the casing 16serves as a closure for the compartments with the exception of thevcompartment which is adjacent the outlet 19. The slot 20 is so arrangedin the wall of the casing 16 that one of the compartments 18 is in aposition that the articles will be discharged therefrom, the nextcompartment which will be moved adjacent the opening being in alinemeutwith the opening 20 so that the articles therein may be viewed throughthe window or closure 22 in the base 10.

Ii desired and as a means for varying the size of the compartments .18there may be provided anadjustable member 73 extend` ing through thebottom of the compartment so that by adjusting the member 73 withrespect to the bottom of the compartment the article containing spacemay be increased or decreased according to the number of articles thatit is desired to dispense upon each operation of the carrier 17.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be clearlyunderstood from the foregoing but briefly statedit is as follows.Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 2, which is theposition they will assume after the apparatus has been once operated, acheck or token is inserted in the slot 15 so as to be disposed in thepath of movement of the projection 63 on the dog 5l. When the check isinserted and if it is a proper check the handle 39 is grasped and themember 36 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2.The projection 61 will engage the check and advance it with the member36 until the check rides up the inclined portion 67. As the check movesup this inclined portion it will raise the dog 54 through the medium ofthe projection 63 so as to hold the hooked end 55 thereof in a positionthat it will not engage the shoulder 66 (see Figure 7). This will permitthe member 36 to be moved further in the direction indicated by thearrow in Figure 2` until the check is discharged through the opening 68and until the projection 53 engages the iiexible member 35 to deflect itand release the carrier 17. At this time the shoulder 48 oit the pavvl17 will engage over the edge of the portion 28 of the carrier 17 Jsothat when the handle 39 is released the stress of the spring which hasbeen created by the movement of the member 36 in the direction of thearrow, will return the member 36 and Will advance the carrier 17 onestep of rotation through the medium of the member 36 being locked withthe carrier 17 by the pawl 47. The articles in the compartment 18 whichare in register with the openin 1.9 will then be discharged through thedelivery opening 12 while the next adjacent compartment will be moved inalinement with the opening 20.

In the event that an improper check is inserted the check will not raisethe 'dog 54 high enough so that the hooked end thereoi'l will pass theprojection 66, 4with the result that the member 36 will be lockedagainst operation. When the handle 39 is then released the projection onthe member 36 will engage the check and move it backwardly with themember 36 and it will be deflected by the projection 70 and theshoulders 72 (see Figure 4) to be delivered through the opening 71 andwill be discharged through the commodity delivery openinv 12 to bereturned to the operator.

Whi e the preferred form'of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed it is to be understood that various changes may be made in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. A rotatable commodity carrier for vendingmachines and the like including a body having a compartment thereinhaving an open top and an open side, a casing in which the cariierrotates, the wall of the casing standing in close proximity to theperiphery of the carrier and operating to maintain the commodity in thecarrier against discharge through the open side of the carrier, saidcasing having a discharge opening through which the article may bedelivered from the compartment at a predetermined time in the rotationof the carrier, there being an additional opening in the casing wallinto register with which the come partment is movable, said openingbeing of a height substantially equal to the height of the compartmentand of a width considerablyless than the width of the compartment, andmeans for arresting the movement of the carrier when the saidcompartment is in alinement with the last recited opening.

2. A. rotatable commodity carrier for vending machines and the likeincluding a body having a compartment therein having an open top and anopen side, a casing vin which the carrier rotates, the wall of thecasing standing in close proximity to the periphery of the carrier andoperating to maintain the commodity in the carrier.

against discharge through the open side of the carrier, said casinghaving a discharge llll) opening, through which the article may bedelivered from the compartment at a predetermined time in the rotationof the'carrier, there bein an additional opening in the casing wall 1ntoregister with which the compartment is ada ted to be moved, saidadditional opening ein ofy a height substantially equal to the eight ofthe conipartment and of a width less than the width of the compartment,means for holding the carrier against retrograde movement, and meanshaving a forward and backward movement for rotating the carrier.

3. A rotatable commodity carrier for vending machines and the likeincluding a body lhaving a compartment therein having4 an open top andan open side, a casingl in which the carrier rotates, said casing avinga discharge opening through which the article may be delivered from thecompart- 'ment at a predetermined time in the rotation of the carrier,there bein an additional opening rin the casing wal into register withwhich the compartment is adapted to be moved, said additional openingbeing of a height substantiall equal to the height of the compartment anof a width less than the width ofthe compartment, means for locking thecarrier against forward movement, means having a forward and backwardmovement for rotating the carrier'forwardly, and vmeans carried with thelast recited means for rendering the said locking means inactive. i

- 4. A vending machine including a magazine vfor the articles to bevended, a commodity carrier rotatable about an upright axis and having aseries of laterally opening pockets therein, an upright wall arheight ofthe ranged adjacent the periphery of said carrier and constituting meansfor holding the articles within the pockets, said wall having an openingtherethrough with which the ockets are adapted to be successively roughtinto register, said opening being of a length substantially co-extensivewith the siderably less t an the lwidth of the o cket, said wall beingshaped to permit t e articles to be laterallyv discharged from thepockets, means adapted to engage the carrier at diierent points aboutlts circumfery ence for rotating the carrier, and means for pocket andof a widthconconstituting means for holding the .articles within thepockets, said wall having an opening therethrough with which'the4pockets are adapted to be successively brought into register, saidopening being of a length substantially co-extensive withl the hei ht ofthe pocket and of a width considerab y less than the width of thepocket, said wall'being shaped to permit the artlcles to be laterallydischarged from the pockets, means adapted to engage the carrier atdifferent points about its circumference for rotating the carrier spacedVresilient stops, and formations carried b said carrier and adapted tobe positioned b rest-ing the movement of the carrier.Y

6. A vending machine including a maga-k zine for the articles to bevended, a commodity carriery rotatableabout an upright axis and having aseries of laterally open-1n pockets therein, an upright Wall arrangedetween the stops for I'arl l adjacent the periphery of said carrier yandconstitutingv means for holding the articles within the pockets, saidwall having anv opening therethrough with which the pockets are adaptedto be successively brought into register, said opening being of alengthsubstantially co-extensive with the hei ht of the pocket and of'awidthconsidera being shaped -to permit the articles to be lateralldischarged from the pockets, means adapte to Vengage the carrier atdifferent names to this-specification, on this 13th day i of June, A. D.1924.

- ALFRED D. ANTOINE.

ALBERT E. GEBERT.

1 sof less than the width of the pocket, said wall

